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Community & KehillahSeptember 2004From the Desk of Rabbi CohonWe live in an American Society that highlights individual initiative and accomplishment, and which clings to a social ideal of the rugged individualist standing alone against the forces arrayed against him or her. In films, novels, and even videogames the triumph of the lone true believer is celebrated to an extreme degree. From Mr. Smith in Washington to John Wayne to Rambo in Die Hard to Erin Brockovich, America has taken its heroes -- and anti-heroes -- from the ranks of the professionally lonely. In our ideology, only a radical individualist can overcome the system and triumph. I once wrote a rock song with a friend of mine called "We're all in this alone." In its youthful angst it captured this basic element in our culture... But the truth is that we are all dependent on others, and that virtually nothing is ever accomplished alone. We are all participants in a larger, greater totality. Albert Einstein expressed it well when he said, "A human being is part of the whole, called by us 'Universe,' a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures." One of the fundamental teachings of Judaism is that we are all, in one sense or another, interrelated. Kol Yisrael areivim zeh bazeh the Talmud teaches, each of us is responsible for every other. We are part of a greater whole. The roles we play in our congregation should be based on our understanding of that truth. And when we are able to feel that we are connected, and are giving something good to the greater whole, we are able to overcome much of the loneliness and isolation that are programmed into our society. Our Temple has grown dramatically in every way over the past five years. While both the size and the involvement of our community have increased, it has become clear that we still need to work together to further grow our sense of the connection that exists, and to enhance commitment to the sacred community, the kehillah, that we form. One of the goals we have articulated for Temple Emanu-El in the 5765 year is to highlight the connectedness, and to help our congregants -- you -- find a place to contribute best to the relationships that create greater feelings of family and belonging. Sometimes that will be through our newer--and new--affinity groups, such as Emanu-El LITE and Reu'it. Sometimes that will be through improved committee and program involvement and commitment, such as the Religious School Committee or the High Holy Day Choir. And sometimes that will simply be by asking each of you to take some time to get to know other members of our congregation, and so to help build awareness of those supportive bonds that join us together into a community. The blessing of Jewish synagogue life is the opportunity to be a participating, contributing member of a creative, nurturing, supportive, sacred community, a key part of the greater whole. In this New Year of 5765 may you, and your family, deepen your level of connection and commitment, and so find holiness and God. Rhody, Boaz, Gabriel and Cipora join me in wishing you L'shanah Tovah Tikateivu v'teichateimu. Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon
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